PC 1275 Hold Bail Bonds — California

California Penal Code §1275.1 gives a court the power to require that any money used to post bail be traced to a lawful source. When the DA — or the judge sua sponte — has probable cause to believe bail funds may derive from felonious conduct (drug trafficking, money laundering, organized fraud, gang activity), the court imposes a "1275 hold." Until a bail source hearing is held and the judge is satisfied, no surety bond, cash bond, or property bond can secure release, even if the full premium has already been paid.

The mechanics are straightforward but paperwork-intensive. Defense counsel files a motion for a source hearing, and the court sets a hearing date — typically 3–10 court days out. At the hearing, the co-signer/indemnitor and any donors must appear, testify under oath, and produce documentary evidence: 2 years of tax returns, 6–12 months of bank and brokerage statements, current pay stubs, W-2s or 1099s, HELOC or mortgage records for pledged real property, and gift affidavits with donor tax records for any funds received as a gift. Cash of unexplained origin — especially deposits under $10,000 designed to avoid CTR reporting — is almost always rejected.

Jake Hernandez Bail Bonds prepares the entire source-of-funds packet before the hearing so defense counsel walks into court with a clean, indexed binder. We coordinate directly with the co-signer, confirm the collateral chain of title, and (when appropriate) provide the surety's own written declaration that the premium is being received from a documented lawful source. That reduces hearing time to minutes rather than hours and dramatically increases the probability the judge lifts the hold on the first appearance.

Once the hold is lifted, we post the bond immediately — often in the courtroom itself. In Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego counties we regularly clear the hold and post the bond within a single court day, meaning the defendant is released the same afternoon or evening. The premium is unchanged (10% California state, 15% federal), 0% interest payment plans are available, and real-estate, vehicle, and cash-backed CD collateral are all accepted.

Cases most often flagged include Health & Safety Code 11351 / 11352 / 11378 / 11379 (drug sales and transportation), Penal Code 186.10 (money laundering), 186.22 (gang enhancement), PC 187 (murder), PC 211 (armed robbery), large-dollar 484 / 487 (theft/grand theft), and any indictment involving alleged proceeds of crime. Federal cases transferred to state courts under joint task force arrangements also commonly carry 1275-style holds. If any of these charges appear on the booking record, expect a source hearing to be required before release.